Chasing ghosts

We all waited with baited breath to see if our host would actually turn up and take us to the bikes, or would we be faced with a 3 km uphill slog with all our kit.   Phew, just a few minutes late, he arrived, then drove us at breakneck speed, cutting up buses and pedestrians on the way.

I forgot to mention that when we had arranged to meet this chap at some random point he gave us, a neighbour helpfully said "Peter, he is IDIOT" .... oh how true it was.

So we left Croatia, and crossed the border into Montenegro...

That went smoothly, and soon we were on our way to Kotor, and the ferry across the bay, which saved us 30 miles.

We then followed a picturesque road along the waters edge, to what was going to be start of the Kotor Rotor - a series of around 25 sequentail hairpin bends up the side of a mountain.  Unfortuantly the lower sections had been closed to hold a Rally event, but our illustrious leader found a route around, and deposited us a little further up the mountain, hopefully clear of the Rally stage.

The road and the views were spectacular, and as I chased Dave up the mountain, we were surprised to see Neil hanging in there .... well impressed, we were.

At the top, we found a young entrepreneur selling cold drinks to the cyclists.  We helped swell his profits.

Now the rest of the day was just more cracking roads over tbe top of the mountains.  Soon the three of us had a bit of a lead over Thorpy, so we pulled in on the outside of a hairpin to wait.  Perhaps the tree cover was just too good and he sailed past in a world of his own.  By the time we had donned our kit and set off chasing him, he was gone.

Now this is where things went wrong .... me and Harris shot off like banshees on the 3 lane A-road to catch him.  In our haste we completly missed the correct turn onto a muntain road which he had taken ....so in effect we were chasing a ghost for 30 odd km.  Meanwhile Neil behind us, had also taken the correct route, putting them both in front, even if we didnt realise it.

So sheepishly retracing our steps, and with lots of consultation of the Tracker system, and a few phone calls, we eventually regrouped at a fuel station.

Moving on, we entered Albania without much of a problem, to find a hugh contrast in the condition of the roads, the poverty, the hugh police roadside presence, and the number of dubious ladies waiting on pavements for potential customers.

I think we were about to write off the country as a bad experience, b utwere so surprised at the hotel we had booked in Elbesan.  It was built inside the old city fortress walls, and was just full of character, good beer, nice staff, and excellent food to round the evening off.  They even allowed us to bring the bikes inside and park them against a Jasmine backdrop .... my Honda has never smelt so sweet!

Some pics to give you an idea .....

Lot of miles to do in the morning so we agreed on an 8.30 start .... had we have known how the day would pan out, we should have left at 5.30am !!